Scorsese to direct DiCaprio and Lawrence in ghost story for Apple

Martin Scorsese has officially committed to directing his next film, announcing a seventh collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio alongside Jennifer Lawrence in the ghost story adaptation “What Happens at Night.” The project marks a significant development for the acclaimed filmmaker, who has been weighing multiple options following his 2023 epic “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

Apple Original Films is in advanced negotiations to finance and produce the film alongside Studiocanal, with production eyeing a January 2026 start date. According to Deadline, the project represents a natural progression given Apple’s existing first-look deals with both Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions and DiCaprio’s Appian Way production companies.bloody-disgusting

A Haunting Tale of Adoption and Identity

Based on Peter Cameron’s 2020 novel, “What Happens at Night” follows a married American couple who travel to a snowy European town to adopt a baby. The story unfolds when they check into a vast, nearly deserted hotel populated by enigmatic characters, including “a flamboyant chanteuse, a depraved businessman, and a charismatic faith healer”. As the couple struggles to claim their child, they begin losing their grip on their own identities and the life they’ve built together.bloody-disgusting

The screenplay has been adapted by Patrick Marber, known for his Oscar-nominated work on “Notes on a Scandal”. Critics have drawn comparisons to “The Shining” and “Twin Peaks,” with the story described as exploring similar psychological territory to Scorsese and DiCaprio’s previous collaboration “Shutter Island”.variety

Continuing Creative Partnerships

This marks the seventh feature film collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio, following their acclaimed run that began with “Gangs of New York” in 2002. For Lawrence, this represents her first time working with Scorsese as a director, though he previously produced her upcoming film “Die, My Love,” which premiered at Cannes.bloody-disgusting

The timing aligns with both stars’ current career momentum. DiCaprio is earning rave reviews for his performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” while Lawrence recently garnered attention for her Cannes debut in “Die, My Love”.variety

Studiocanal originally acquired the rights to Cameron’s novel in 2023 with Scorsese initially attached only as producer. The project’s evolution from a producing credit to his next directorial effort signals Scorsese’s commitment to the material at age 82, demonstrating his continued appetite for challenging, psychologically complex narratives.bloody-disgusting